1. < Brain & Nervous System
Profile picture for jmb73

Occipital Neuralgia: What treatments work for you?

Posted by jmb73 @jmb73, Sep 11, 2019

I have been having headaches on one side of my head and have recently been diagnosed with occipital neuralgia. They recommend a nerve bloc but I wonder anyone else has this and how they handle it.. I don't want a nerve bloc. The headaches are usually mild but occasionally the pain wakes me up. They got worse after I had my Gamma surgery. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Brain & Nervous System Support Group.

Profile picture for suszy39
suszy39 | @suszy39 | Oct 5 3:46pm
In reply to @rockon79 "I suffer from occasional yet very severe headaches that follow the occipital nerve path on the..." + (show)
Profile picture for rockon79 @rockon79

I suffer from occasional yet very severe headaches that follow the occipital nerve path on the right side and back of my head and at times neck. The anesthesiologist I had for other pain management quickly diagnosed this issue and produced that exact head ache just by touching a certain area. It seems that at certain times (no clue when) everything lines up and I become extremely susceptible to the point of even a slight touch or other seemingly trivial trigger will start that misery. At other times-no problems and I am grateful. I do know that narcotics are no help at all-only something like ketorolac, a strong nsaid will eventually reduce or even eliminate that debilitating pain. To me that indicates a physical (could be emotional causing the physical) tension on that nerve is the culprit, IDK. The cause appears to be elusive, in my case anyways, since I have not been able to get a clear cut diagnosis-any thoughts?

Jump to this post

@rockon79 This sounds like my story. Looking back I have had this problem a long time, however they have gotten worse. My last flair up was Jan 2026 three weeks, it was beyond awful
both my Dr. were out of the country on vacation, a trip to ER gave me Mirgrain cocktail, helped short time. I made up my mine I was going to help myself more!! One Dr. sent me to a clincial
massage therapy (it is wonderful, every 4 wks) they work on my neck, back and head only. My pain almost always begins in my neck (right side) so I use broom handle (cut off) and rolls up and down my neck. I am telling you it really helps, I even travel with it, you can purchase same type
but I love my handle it is small. 2nd I purchased a Cervical Roll "orginial McKenzie" Item #703
http://www.mckenziemdt.org This has been a game changer for me. I wrap a small down pillow around the roll, otherwise to hard, my down pillows were giving slight headacks everymorning no more. I also do exercises to stregthen my neck not just stretches, may be three per day. I use Headed Eye Mask (amazon) especially when I am having headacks are
even mild it feels so very good. Magesium cream (amazon) apply to neck, sometimes, it is a little tick so I use warm water in my hands then apply. I do not take meds, they all made me so
sick, my Dr. gave me a new one to try but as for now feeling pretty normal. This Mayo sight was so helpful to me, just knowing there are others who "know" how the pain is causing so much life changing times. I love my migraine cap also it is tight but feels good right out of the freezer. The best to you and other fellow suffers. From Northern Calif.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for suszy39
suszy39 | @suszy39 | Oct 5 3:48pm
In reply to @suszy39 "@rockon79 This sounds like my story. Looking back I have had this problem a long time,..." + (show)
Profile picture for suszy39 @suszy39

@rockon79 This sounds like my story. Looking back I have had this problem a long time, however they have gotten worse. My last flair up was Jan 2026 three weeks, it was beyond awful
both my Dr. were out of the country on vacation, a trip to ER gave me Mirgrain cocktail, helped short time. I made up my mine I was going to help myself more!! One Dr. sent me to a clincial
massage therapy (it is wonderful, every 4 wks) they work on my neck, back and head only. My pain almost always begins in my neck (right side) so I use broom handle (cut off) and rolls up and down my neck. I am telling you it really helps, I even travel with it, you can purchase same type
but I love my handle it is small. 2nd I purchased a Cervical Roll "orginial McKenzie" Item #703
http://www.mckenziemdt.org This has been a game changer for me. I wrap a small down pillow around the roll, otherwise to hard, my down pillows were giving slight headacks everymorning no more. I also do exercises to stregthen my neck not just stretches, may be three per day. I use Headed Eye Mask (amazon) especially when I am having headacks are
even mild it feels so very good. Magesium cream (amazon) apply to neck, sometimes, it is a little tick so I use warm water in my hands then apply. I do not take meds, they all made me so
sick, my Dr. gave me a new one to try but as for now feeling pretty normal. This Mayo sight was so helpful to me, just knowing there are others who "know" how the pain is causing so much life changing times. I love my migraine cap also it is tight but feels good right out of the freezer. The best to you and other fellow suffers. From Northern Calif.

Jump to this post

@suszy39 I meant to say I use a heated eye mask.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.